A patient has been stabbed with a knife at the fifth intercostal space on the right side of the chest in an attempted suicide. Assessment reveals him to be short of breath and coughing. Which question is it most important for the EMT to ask regarding the weapon?

According to EMS.gov, a trauma patient is an injured person who requires immediate diagnosis and treatment from a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals. The goal is to reduce or eliminate the risk of death or permanent disability. A trauma system is an organized effort that provides the full range of care to all injured patients in a defined geographic area. It's integrated with the local public health system and includes the following components: Prevention, Prehospital care, Hospital care, and Rehabilitation.  The first phase of a trauma system activates immediately after an... Show more

According to EMS.gov, a trauma patient is an injured person who requires immediate diagnosis and treatment from a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals. The goal is to reduce or eliminate the risk of death or permanent disability. A trauma system is an organized effort that provides the full range of care to all injured patients in a defined geographic area. It's integrated with the local public health system and includes the following components: Prevention, Prehospital care, Hospital care, and Rehabilitation. 

The first phase of a trauma system activates immediately after an injury and includes:
Calling 911
Coordinating a response among Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Making initial assessments and diagnoses
Stabilizing the patient
Transporting the patient to a local hospital or trauma center
Admitting the patient to an acute medical care facility 

Trauma systems can impact patient outcomes in a number of ways, including: Injury prevention, Bystander intervention, and Emergency medical services. 

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